Yummy

The Last Days of A Southside Shorty

"A graphic novel based on the true story of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, an eleven-year old African American gang member from Chicago who shot a young girl and was then shot by his own gang members"--Provided by publisher.

Opinion

From Library Staff

"A graphic novel based on the true story of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, an eleven-year old African American gang member from Chicago who shot a young girl and was then shot by his own gang members"--Provided by publisher.

From the critics

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This is a very short biography of Robert Sandifer who was an eleven year old gangster running with the Black Disciples in Chicago. In 1994 young Robert Sandifer shot and killed another child on the mean streets of Chicago's south-side.

The book yummy is about an 11 year old boy who eventually killed a 14 year old girl with a “stray” bullet and next goes on a run because the police is after him,his name is Robert “yummy” Sandifer.While reading this book I was very interested because it was crazy and sad at the same time how he basically had no guidance and was just out on the streets as an 11 year old.A specific moment in the book to support my thought is when he was at the little 25 cent telephone stand he called his granny saying he is very scared and the police is looking for him.This book is significant because I4 never read a book with this type of theme or any book by this author.I would definitely recommend this book for children 10+.

Seems like a story I've encountered a number of times before in one form or another, which makes sense since it's based on something that happened in 1994. Yet Neri does an excellent job telling it. I especially appreciate the way he raised questions more than answered them. There's nothing easy about this true tale, and it's a great one for discussion.

ELIZABETH RAMSEY BIRD
May 07, 2013

I love comics for kids, but there are really only so many tales involving kids finding magical distant lands that you can read before you want to pluck out your own eyeballs. Yummy in contrast was something entirely new. Gritty, real, willing to ask tough questions, and willing to trust that young readers will be able to reach their own conclusions. The central question is this: Can a child murderer be both victim and bully all at the same time? Don’t look for easy answers here. Neri’s not handing them out.

I'd say that the inks are what Charlie Adlard is aiming for in his work on The Walking Dead series, except Randy DuBurke can actually draw people. Wonderful use of shadow. Compelling story, but the art really makes it shine.

Summary

The real world facts are available. Here’s what we know: That Robert “Yummy” Sandifer was eleven years old in 1994 when he went on the run after accidentally killing a neighbor girl. Gang violence was at its peak in the Roseland area of Chicago, and in this book a fictional neighborhood boy watches what happens to Yummy and to his own brother, both members of the same gang. The book asks hard questions as we watch Yummy’s life and strange toughness, even as his story turns tragic. An author’s note and bibliography appear at the end.

Quotes

“I tried to figure out who the real Yummy was. The one who stole my lunch money? Or the one who smiled when I shared my candy with him? I wondered if I grew up like him, would I have turned out the same?”